The Seinoli Project aims to achieve compensation in various forms for thousands of people who have been adversely affected by the construction of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) in Lesotho.
These communities are entitled to compensation under laws passed by the Lesotho parliament. However, hundreds of cases documented by the Lesotho Ombudsman show that many have received little or none of the compensation they were promised over ten years ago. Many people remain homeless, isolated and with no means of livelihood.
Protimos lawyers are working on the project in partnership with Transformation Resource Centre, a local NGO, and representatives from the community to seek compensation and damages; to help protect those who will be affected by future phases of the LHWP from the same treatment; and to empower the communities to be able to understand and assert their legal rights on their own.
After 2-3 years, Protimos plans to step back to a consultative role, leaving a community with economic benefits and the ability to assert their legal rights in the future.
Read more about the background story of the project.